By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) – Five irregular migrants, including a woman, drowned after a boat capsized off Malta, officials said on Friday, adding that 29 others were rescued, eight of whom were injured.
The incident took place while Malta's Armed Forces were conducting a rescue operation 3.5 miles offshore, the Times of Malta reported.
The boat that left Libya's capital, Tripoli, three or four days ago, was carrying 34 irregular migrants from Syria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Egypt, the daily said.
Malta's Armed Forces said 21 irregular migrants were taken to the Safi detention center for necessary processing.